Absolut
21st March 2010, 22:57
http://www.thelocal.se/25650/20100321/ (The Local)
Risk of Easter strike looms
Published: 21 Mar 10 08:34 CET
Negotiations between the Commercial Employees´ Union (Handelsanställdas förbund) and the Swedish Federation of Trade (Svensk Handel) employers' organisation have stalled, according to the trade union.
“Our counterpart has not made a single concession in any area but continues to stand by their original proposal,” said union chairman Lars-Anders Häggström in a statement.
The union has called an emergency board meeting for Sunday to decide what measures should be taken.
Among other things, the stalled negotiations increase the risk of a strike during Easter.
“I don't want to anticipate what will happen as it is the board that will determine how we will deal with this,” Häggström told TT news agency.
He says the parties haven't come any closer to reaching an agreement regarding salary or issues related to temporary employment agencies despite six weeks of negotiations. According to Häggström, Svensk Handel has not budged from its original position.
Dag Klackenberg, managing director of Svensk Handel, said the reason the negotiations has stalled is because the agreement on industrial development and wage formation (industriavtalet) has not been finalised.
“It should set out basic guiding principles. This year, discussions have not just been driven by salary levels but also about the future use of temporary employment agencies,” he told TT.
The organisations have thus not entered into legally-binding agreements, but are waiting for a proposal from independent representatives (Opo - opartiska ordförandena) that would be acceptable to both social partners.
“This was the result when we found out this afternoon (Saturday) that Opo won't be able to popose a solution to the temporary employment agency question. We couldn't deliver what the employees' organisation demanded and suspension of negotations was the next step.”
Svensk Handels' negotiators and board will meet on Sunday afternoon to discuss the situation.
“We will put the issue before our members next week. What I hope will happen now is that there will be some proposal on how to resolve the issues related to temporary employment agencies,” Klackenberg said.
TT/The Local ([email protected]/08 656 6518)
So far, The Swedish Food Workers' Union (around 30.000 affected workers) and the SAC in Stockholm (around 2500 affected workers) has given notice of industrial action. The collective agreements between the unions and employer-organisations run out on the 31st of March, and so far, no agreements have been reached, except by Unionen (a white-collar union), which affected around 30.000 workers. If the unions want to engage in industrial action at the time the agreements run out, they have to hand in their notice to The National Mediation Office and the employer-organisation.
On of the main points where they unions and employers disagree is of the use of temporary employment agencies. The last years more and more employers have begun to fire their regular employees and then hire in new ones from the employment agencies. Another point is the wages. The employers claim theres no money, so they want to put a low cap as to how much the employees wages can increase during the next period after the collective agreement has been met. Of interest may be that 8 in 10 members of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (which organises around 1.7 million workers) are ready to strike to ensure that stop the employers from using the employment agencies the way they have.
Risk of Easter strike looms
Published: 21 Mar 10 08:34 CET
Negotiations between the Commercial Employees´ Union (Handelsanställdas förbund) and the Swedish Federation of Trade (Svensk Handel) employers' organisation have stalled, according to the trade union.
“Our counterpart has not made a single concession in any area but continues to stand by their original proposal,” said union chairman Lars-Anders Häggström in a statement.
The union has called an emergency board meeting for Sunday to decide what measures should be taken.
Among other things, the stalled negotiations increase the risk of a strike during Easter.
“I don't want to anticipate what will happen as it is the board that will determine how we will deal with this,” Häggström told TT news agency.
He says the parties haven't come any closer to reaching an agreement regarding salary or issues related to temporary employment agencies despite six weeks of negotiations. According to Häggström, Svensk Handel has not budged from its original position.
Dag Klackenberg, managing director of Svensk Handel, said the reason the negotiations has stalled is because the agreement on industrial development and wage formation (industriavtalet) has not been finalised.
“It should set out basic guiding principles. This year, discussions have not just been driven by salary levels but also about the future use of temporary employment agencies,” he told TT.
The organisations have thus not entered into legally-binding agreements, but are waiting for a proposal from independent representatives (Opo - opartiska ordförandena) that would be acceptable to both social partners.
“This was the result when we found out this afternoon (Saturday) that Opo won't be able to popose a solution to the temporary employment agency question. We couldn't deliver what the employees' organisation demanded and suspension of negotations was the next step.”
Svensk Handels' negotiators and board will meet on Sunday afternoon to discuss the situation.
“We will put the issue before our members next week. What I hope will happen now is that there will be some proposal on how to resolve the issues related to temporary employment agencies,” Klackenberg said.
TT/The Local ([email protected]/08 656 6518)
So far, The Swedish Food Workers' Union (around 30.000 affected workers) and the SAC in Stockholm (around 2500 affected workers) has given notice of industrial action. The collective agreements between the unions and employer-organisations run out on the 31st of March, and so far, no agreements have been reached, except by Unionen (a white-collar union), which affected around 30.000 workers. If the unions want to engage in industrial action at the time the agreements run out, they have to hand in their notice to The National Mediation Office and the employer-organisation.
On of the main points where they unions and employers disagree is of the use of temporary employment agencies. The last years more and more employers have begun to fire their regular employees and then hire in new ones from the employment agencies. Another point is the wages. The employers claim theres no money, so they want to put a low cap as to how much the employees wages can increase during the next period after the collective agreement has been met. Of interest may be that 8 in 10 members of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation (which organises around 1.7 million workers) are ready to strike to ensure that stop the employers from using the employment agencies the way they have.